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Two-dimensional (2D) piezoelectric nanomaterials have widely been studied recently due to their promise for various applications in technology. Investigation of vertical piezoelectricity will contribute to a deeper understanding of the intrinsic mechanism of piezoelectric effects in the 2D structures. In this paper, we report a first-principle study for the structural, electronic, piezoelectric, and transport properties of new-designed Janus WSi Z 3 H (Z = N, P, and As) monolayers. The structural stability of WSi Z 3 H is theoretically confirmed based on the energetic, phonon dispersion, and also elastic analyses. At the ground state, while WSiN 3 H is an indirect semiconductor, both WSiP 3 H and WSiAs 3 H are predicted to be direct semiconductors with smaller bandgaps. When the spin-orbit coupling effects are taken into account, a large valley spin splitting is observed at the K point of WSi Z 3 H materials. Interestingly, a giant Rashba spin splitting is found in WSiP 3 H and WSiAs 3 H with Rashba constant α R up to 770.91 meV Å. Additionally, our first-principles study indicates that Janus WSi Z 3 H monolayers are piezoelectric semiconductors with high out-of-plane piezoelectric coefficient | d 31 | , up to 0.15 pm/V, due to the broken mirror symmetry. Besides, with high electron mobilities and also possessing direct band gaps, WSiP 3 H and WSiAs 3 H monolayers are favorable for applications in optoelectronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses fly ash (FA) as a cement replacement in concrete and evaluates the radiological safety of this concrete sample. Different fly ash mixing ratios were investigated and found that with a mixing ratio of 35%, the compressive strength of FA concrete is the highest (from 38 to 48 MPa). Next, we evaluate the radiation safety of the FA concrete by analyzing the isotopes 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K using two low-background gamma spectrometers. The obtained results showed that the use of FA in concrete production is entirely feasible as it meets both construction and radiation safety-related requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents findings on groundwater physiochemical composition and radioactivity levels in households in Bac Lieu province, Vietnam. Through discriminant analysis, it was observed that groundwater quality exhibits spatial variations corresponding to saline intrusion zones. The paired-samples T-tests revealed significantly different ratios of Ra-224, Ra-226, and Ra-228 isotopes between Na–Cl and Ca–Na–HCO3 water types. All three water types had a ratio of Ra-226/Ra-228 of approximately one, indicating the presence of groundwater aquifers beneath the crust and fluvial marine sediment. Furthermore, strong associations between sulfate and calcium suggest that CO2 enrichment in groundwater aquifers indicates anoxic aquatic environments. Twenty-five of the thirty-three evaluated samples exceeded the national technical regulations for domestic water quality with parameters such as chloride, sulfate, sodium, gross alpha, or total dissolved solids. Fifteen samples exceeded gross alpha's allowable contamination threshold of 0.1 Bq/L. The combination of Ra-226 and Ra-228 did not surpass the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's recommended limit of 0.185 Bq/L. However, nineteen samples exhibited annual committed effective doses of radium isotopes for infants that exceeded the WHO recommendation of 0.1 mSv/year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work focuses on optimizing the structure of CZTS/ZnO thin film heterostructure to increase the photocatalytic property in visible region. The CZTS thin films were fabricated on glass substrates by dip coating method. Then ZnO thin films were grown on the CZTS layer by chemical bath deposition method at low temperature. Secondary phase formation in CZTS thin films with four different molar ratios of Cu : Zn : Sn : S of 1.4 : 1 : 1 : 8, 1.6 :1 : 1 : 8, 1.8 : 1 : 1 : 8 and 2 : 1 : 1 : 8 were investigated. In order to improve the crystallinity, CZTS thin films were annealed at 450°C in N2 atmosphere without sulfurization. The results showed that the CZTS thin film exhibited phase pure kesterite structure and good crystallinity at the ratio of 1.8 : 1 : 1 : 8 (Cu : Zn : Sn : S), absence of secondary phase formation in CZTS thin film was important to reduce charge recombination. For ZnO/CZTS thin film heterostructure, in order to reduce the lattice mismatch of ZnO and CZTS, some seed layers were coated onto the surface of CZTS thin film to support the growth of ZnO thin film in these heterostructures. Raman spectra, XRD patterns and SEM images data confirm that the ZnO/CZTS thin film heterostructures with two seed layers achieved optimal crystal structure and film morphology. UV-Vis spectra of heterostructures suggested that photocatalytic activity is extended toward visible-light region from 380 to 800 nm. Finally, the photocatalytic performance was examined through degradation of methylene blue (MB) and apparent rate constant (kapp), namely: the highest degradation of MB was obtained with ZC2 labelled heterostructure samples up to 92.8% in 150 min; kapp of this sample is much larger (as high as 6.5 and 29.2 times respectively) than that of pristine CZTS and ZnO films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose here a fabrication of an electrochemical sensor to detect heavy metal ions based on a glass carbon electrode (GCE) modified with a composite system consisting of graphene, chitosan, and Fe3O4 nanoparticles (GrCF) by using square wave voltammetry (SWV) measurements. The GrCF composite was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman spectroscopy. GrCF consists of thin and smooth sheets stacked in overlapping layers to form porous structures. In the GrCF composite, graphene acts as a substrate with a high electrochemical activity and a good electrical conductivity, Fe3O4 nanoparticles are uniformly distributed on the graphene thanks to chitosan as a binder, the functional groups of chitosan (− OH, − NH2) have the ability to form complexes with heavy metal ions, and the excellent adsorption capacity of Fe3O4 nanoparticles has enhanced the electrochemical reactions. The GrCF/GCE can detect Pb2+ ions with a linear range from 4 to 16 μM, a low detection limit of 3.57 μM, and a sensitivity of 8.623 μA μM−1. Furthermore, the repeatability of the measurements are reliable with a standard deviation (SD) of 0.15 μA and a relative standard deviation (RSD%) of 4.16%. Additionally, Pb2+ was detected in the real sample at potentials of − 0.50 V/ − 0.52 V with calculated recovery values for two measurements of 89.02% and 89.43%. The electrode modification method based on the GrCF composite promises outstanding advantages in the field of electrochemical sensors for detection of heavy metal ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The association between postoperative complications and long‐term survival after laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) for gastric cancer (GC) remains uncertain. This study aimed to determine the incidence and risk factors of postoperative complications and evaluate their impact on survival outcomes in patients undergoing LG. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 621 patients who underwent LG for gastric adenocarcinoma between March 2015 and December 2021. Postoperative complications were classified according to the Clavien–Dindo classification, with major complications defined as Grade III or higher. Logistic regression models with stepwise backward procedure were used to identify risk factors for complications. To assess the impact of postoperative complications on survival, uni‐ and multi‐variable Cox proportional hazard models were used for overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS). Results: Overall rate of postoperative complications was 17.6% (109 patients); 33 patients (5.3%) had major complications. Independent risk factors for major complications were Charlson comorbidities index (OR [95% CI], 1.87 [1.09–3.12], p‐value = 0.018 for each one score increase), and type of anastomosis (OR [95% CI], 0.28 [0.09–0.91], p‐value = 0.029 when comparing Billroth II with Billroth I). Multivariable analysis identified major complications as an independent prognostic factor to reduce OS (HR [95% CI], 2.32 [1.02–5.30], p‐value = 0.045) and DFS (HR [95% CI], 2.63 [1.37–5.06], p‐value = 0.004). Other prognostic factors for decreased survival outcomes were tumor size, presence of invasive lymph nodes, and T4a stage. Conclusions: Major complications rate of LG for GC was approximately 5.3%. Charlson comorbidities index and type of anastomosis were identified as risk factors for major postoperative complications. Major complications were demonstrated to pose adverse impact on survival outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction/Aims: The CHAMPION MG study demonstrated that ravulizumab significantly improved Myasthenia Gravis‐Activities of Daily Living (MG‐ADL) and Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis (QMG) total scores versus placebo in adults with acetylcholine receptor antibody‐positive generalized myasthenia gravis (AChR+ gMG). This post hoc analysis aimed to assess these outcomes by time from MG diagnosis. Methods: Changes from baseline to week 26 in MG‐ADL and QMG total scores were analyzed by time from MG diagnosis to study entry (≤2 vs. >2 years). Within each subgroup, least‐squares (LS) mean changes for ravulizumab and placebo were compared using mixed models for repeated measures. Results: In ravulizumab‐treated patients, differences in LS mean (standard error of the mean) changes from baseline to week 26 were not statistically significant in the ≤2‐years subgroup versus the >2‐years subgroup for MG‐ADL (−4.3 [0.70] vs. −2.9 [0.37]; p =.0511) or QMG (−4.3 [0.94] vs. −2.5 [0.50]; p =.0822) scores. No clear trends were observed in the placebo group. LS mean changes from baseline were significantly greater for ravulizumab versus placebo in both the ≤2 and >2 years from diagnosis subgroups for MG‐ADL and QMG scores (all p <.05). The difference in treatment effect between the ≤2‐years and >2‐years subgroups was not statistically significant. No clinically meaningful between‐subgroup differences in treatment‐emergent adverse events were observed in ravulizumab‐treated patients. Discussion: Ravulizumab treatment improved clinical outcomes for patients with AChR+ gMG regardless of time from diagnosis. A numerical trend was observed favoring greater treatment effect with earlier versus later treatment after diagnosis. Further studies are required for confirmation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamboo diplomacy, the latest conceptualization in Vietnamese foreign policy, has recently captured widespread media coverage. This study investigates the discursive legitimation strategies employed by the Vietnamese Communist Party to justify the adoption of the aforementioned policy. In addition, the study focuses on the integration of nationalism in the legitimation process of bamboo diplomacy discourse in the context of digital media. Drawing upon constructivism, banal nationalism, and Van Leeuwen's model of legitimation in discourse and communication, the study utilizes CDA and DHA to analyze 66 articles on six official Vietnamese online news outlets. The findings revealed that nationalism-based legitimacy is a key underpinning of three discursive strategies of the four implemented in the VCP's bamboo diplomacy discourse. Accordingly, three main patterns of nationhood reproduction were identified: (i) the myth of national history, (ii) the authority of national traditions, and (iii) the moralization of bamboo iconography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) is a chronic, unpredictable disease associated with high treatment and disease burdens, with a need for more effective and well-tolerated treatments. Objectives: To evaluate the long-term safety, tolerability, and efficacy of zilucoplan in a mild-to-severe, acetylcholine receptor autoantibody-positive (AChR+) gMG population. Design: Ongoing, multicenter, phase III open-label extension (OLE) study. Methods: Eligible patients had completed a qualifying randomized, placebo-controlled phase II or phase III zilucoplan study and received daily, self-administered subcutaneous 0.3 mg/kg zilucoplan. The primary endpoint was incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs). Secondary efficacy endpoints included change from baseline in Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) score. Results: In total, 200 patients enrolled. At the cut-off date (8 September 2022), median (range) exposure to zilucoplan in RAISE-XT was 1.2 (0.11–4.45) years. Mean age at OLE baseline was 53.3 years. A total of 188 (94%) patients experienced a TEAE, with the most common being MG worsening (n = 52, 26%) and COVID-19 (n = 49, 25%). In patients who received zilucoplan 0.3 mg/kg in the parent study, further improvements in MG-ADL score continued through to Week 24 (least squares mean change [95% confidence interval] from double-blind baseline −6.06 [−7.09, −5.03]) and were sustained through to Week 60 (−6.04 [−7.21, −4.87]). In patients who switched from placebo in the parent study, rapid improvements in MG-ADL score were observed at the first week after switching to zilucoplan; further improvements were observed at Week 24, 12 weeks after switching (−6.46 [−8.19, −4.72]), and were sustained through to Week 60 (−6.51 [−8.37, −4.65]). Consistent results were observed in other efficacy endpoints. Conclusion: Zilucoplan demonstrated a favorable long-term safety profile, good tolerability, and sustained efficacy through to Week 60 with consistent benefits in a broad AChR+ gMG population. Additional long-term data will be available in future analyses. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04225871 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04225871) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to achieve a competitive advantage in the market, enhance a positive brand reputation, and respond to consumers' requirement, organizations' key leaders may have to make sustainable decisions for the sake of the environment, the society and the organization simultaneously. In this study, Buddhism and compassion are proposed to extend the sustainability mindset framework in understanding key leaders' sustainable decision making to achieve a balance between concerns for environmental, societal, and economic outcomes. Data from a survey of 142 key leaders who are business owners, entrepreneurs, and managers in SMEs and startups in Vietnam provide evidence that Buddhist teaching and lifestyles are important predictors of key leaders' sustainable decision making through the mediator of compassion. Furthermore, the study also revealed that Buddhism positively and significantly influences compassion. This research, thus, makes contribution to the extant literature regarding factors influencing key leaders' sustainable decision making. Practical implications are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the effects of news events related to the European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) on the Vietnam stock market from 2010 to 2020. We calculate sectoral abnormal returns prior to, during, and after announcements and find that the Vietnamese stock market is susceptible to these events. We discovered that the announcement had a negative impact on the market, which might diminish the effectiveness of the Agreement. The findings show that more than half of Vietnam's sectors had an immediate reaction to EVFTA announcements, with fourteen reacting negatively and six responding positively. Two of the ten events did not have any immediate impact on these industries but all events resulted in either early or delayed reactions. We also find market scepticism and major changes in the deal led to the emergence of a diamond risk structure. We run multiple robustness tests to account for market integration and other factors that may affect stock returns. In addition, we explore potential sectoral systematic risk changes following these occurrences using different ARCH-type models. These additional tests confirm the robustness of our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, tremendous efforts have been made to explore efficient glucose oxidation electrocatalysts for enzymeless glucose sensors to meet the urgent demands for accurate and fast detection of glucose in the fields of health care and environmental monitoring. In this work, an advanced nanostructured material based on the well-aligned CuO/Cu2S heteronanorods incorporated with P atoms is successfully synthesized on a copper substrate. The as-synthesized material shows high catalytic behavior accompanied by outstanding electrical conductivity. This, combined with the unique morphology of unstacked nanorod arrays, which endow the entire material with a greater number of exposed active sites, make the proposed material act as a highly efficient electrocatalyst for the glucose oxidation reaction. Density functional theory calculations demonstrate that P doping endows P-doped CuO/Cu2S with excellent electrical conductivity and glucose adsorption capability, significantly improving its catalytic performance. As a result, a non-enzymatic glucose sensor fabricated based on our proposed material exhibits a broad linear detection range (0.02–8.2 mM) and a low detection limit (0.95 μM) with a high sensitivity of 2.68 mA mM−1 cm−2 and excellent selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) is a rare, chronic, neuromuscular autoimmune disease mediated by pathogenic immunoglobulin G (IgG) autoantibodies. Patients with gMG experience debilitating muscle weakness, resulting in impaired mobility, speech, swallowing, vision and respiratory function. Efgartigimod is a human IgG1 antibody Fc fragment engineered for increased binding affinity to neonatal Fc receptor. The neonatal Fc receptor blockade by efgartigimod competitively inhibits endogenous IgG binding, leading to decreased IgG recycling and increased degradation resulting in lower IgG concentration. Methods: The safety and efficacy of efgartigimod were evaluated in the ADAPT study. Key efficacy outcome measures included Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living (MG‐ADL) and Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis (QMG) scores. Efgartigimod demonstrated significant improvement in both the MG‐ADL and QMG scores. This post hoc analysis aimed to determine whether all subdomains of MG‐ADL and QMG improved with efgartigimod treatment. Individual items of MG‐ADL and QMG were grouped into four subdomains: bulbar, ocular, limb/gross motor and respiratory. Change from baseline over 10 weeks in each subdomain was calculated for each group. Results: Greater improvements from baseline were seen across MG‐ADL subdomains in participants treated with efgartigimod compared with placebo. These improvements were typically observed 1 to 2 weeks after the first infusion and correlated with reductions in IgG. Similar results were observed across most QMG subdomains. Conclusions: These post hoc analyses of MG‐ADL and QMG subdomain data from ADAPT suggest that efgartigimod is beneficial in improving muscle function and strength across all muscle groups, leading to the observed efficacy in participants with gMG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The terminal complement C5 inhibitor ravulizumab was engineered from the humanized monoclonal antibody eculizumab to have an extended half-life and duration of action. It binds to human terminal complement protein C5, inhibiting its cleavage into C5a and C5b, thus preventing the cascade of events that lead to architectural destruction of the postsynaptic neuromuscular junction membrane by the membrane attack complex, and consequent muscle weakness in patients with anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody-positive generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG). The 26-week randomized, placebo-controlled period (RCP) of the phase 3 CHAMPION MG study demonstrated the rapid efficacy of ravulizumab in reducing MG symptoms. Weight-based dosing of ravulizumab every 8 weeks provided sustained efficacy, in terms of patient-reported (Myasthenia Gravis–Activities of Daily Living) and clinician-reported (Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis) endpoints in patients with anti-AChR antibody-positive gMG. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic analyses showed therapeutic serum ravulizumab concentrations (> 175 μg/mL) were achieved immediately after the first dose and were maintained throughout 26 weeks, irrespective of patient body weight; inhibition of serum free C5 was immediate, complete (< 0.5 μg/mL), and sustained in all patients. Interim results from the open-label extension (OLE) showed that after 60 weeks, efficacy was maintained in patients continuing on ravulizumab. Rapid and sustained improvements in efficacy, similar to those seen in patients initiating ravulizumab in the RCP, were observed after initiation of ravulizumab treatment in patients who switched from placebo in the RCP to ravulizumab in the OLE. The findings from the RCP and OLE support ravulizumab's favorable safety profile. In conclusion, ravulizumab has a simple weight-based administration and long dosing interval. Its targeted mechanism of action without generalized immunosuppression is reflected in its rapid onset of symptom improvement, sustained efficacy and good safety profile in the treatment of patients with anti-AChR antibody-positive gMG.Plain Language Summary: Ravulizumab in anti-AChR antibody-positive gMGRavulizumab was engineered from eculizumab to have an extended half-life and longer duration of action. It binds to terminal complement protein C5 to inhibit anti-AChR antibody-mediated activation of terminal complement and destruction of the neuromuscular junction.Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic analyses support a simple weight-based administration and long dosing interval and show that therapeutic ravulizumab concentrations and complete inhibition of C5 were achieved immediately after the first dose.The 26-week randomized placebo-controlled period (RCP) of the CHAMPION MG study in patients with anti-AChR antibody-positive gMG showed that ravulizumab has rapid and sustained efficacy with good safety and tolerability across a broad range of patients.Ravulizumab's efficacy, safety, and tolerability were confirmed in interim analyses of the open-label extension study (including data for up to 60 weeks from the RCP baseline): efficacy was maintained in patients remaining on ravulizumab; rapid and sustained efficacy was established in patients switching from placebo to ravulizumab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic created not only a public health crisis but also the largest disruption to the global economies. The purpose of the paper is to investigate the adverse impacts of the pandemic on self-employment including job loss, income reduction and cut back in work hours and how these impacts were related to the well-being the self-employed. The authors also examine how self-employers responded to adversity in different cultural settings. Design/methodology/approach: The main sample was obtained the Gallup World Poll that covers more than 39,000 individuals across 55 countries over the period from October 2020 to June 2021. The ordinary least square was the main choice of methodology. The paper employs the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition technique to quantify the gap in financial loss between self-employed and employed individuals. Finally, the moderated mediation analysis allows the authors to examine how financial loss mediates the reduction in well-being of self-employers. Findings: The paper finds that self-employers were 29% more likely to lose their businesses than paid individuals to lose their jobs and perhaps as a result, they were 50% more likely to experience lower work hours and less income. The findings suggest that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic varied across countries. The financial gap between self-employment and full-time employment was narrower in countries with individualism, low uncertainty avoidance and propensity for long-term future. Finally, the paper shows that although financial loss associated with the coronavirus situation mediated the relationship between self-employment and reduced wellbeing, the positive relationship between self-employment and life satisfaction (wellbeing) held amid the pandemic. Despite all the pecuniary setbacks relative to full-time employment, self-employers report higher subjective wellbeing than regular wage earners during difficult times. Practical implications: The earnings gap between self-employers and employees persists (and increase) during adverse conditions may cast into doubt the efficiency of the economic system that ensures no one is left behind. In addition, contextual factors such as cultural values should also be taken into consideration in reducing the earning gap between self-employment and regular employment. It is also implied that the self-employed choose to engage in self-employment due to psychological and emotion benefits rather than material achievements. Originality/value: This study has quantified the income gap between self-employment and employed individuals in the context of adverse economic conditions. This study also highlights the fact that despite all the financial setbacks, self-employers are happier than employed individuals and they engage in self-employment as an important way to pursue happiness. This highlights well-being as the critical non-pecuniary benefits of the career choice of and transition into self-employment that have been confirmed in extant entrepreneurship literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, interest in adhesive bonding has grown as it can be considered an efficient solution in terms of strength‐to‐mass ratio when applied to lightweight structures or an interesting solution to complement conventional technologies. The study of bonded adhered joints is carried out using a technique based on the macro‐element method (ME), the ME shape functions are modeled using Taylor expansion power and Fourier expansion series. The purpose of this work is to compare the stiffness matrix obtained first from the entire Taylor series and then with the entire Fourier series. The method has been developed so far for 1D‐bar and 1D‐beam kinematics frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New business models integrated with technological advances like online food ordering platforms have been increasingly prevalent and are believed to bring significant value to customers. This study applied the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) to examine how several factors influence the continuance usage intention of Gen Z customers when using food delivery applications (FDAs). Results from the CB-SEM analysis reveal that personal innovativeness positively influences the attitude of Gen Z customers. Continuance usage intention is positively influenced by attitude, perceived usefulness of promotion, and subjective norm. On the contrary, perceived health risk is indicated as a significant barrier to the perceived usefulness of promotion and continuance usage intention of Gen Z customers. These findings suggested discussions and have implications for stakeholders such as researchers, technology providers, enterprises, and policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work investigated the structural characteristics and SO2 adsorption-sensing properties of pristine HfS2 and TM-doped HfS2 monolayers (TM = Ni, Pd, or Pt) using DFT and NEGF-based calculations. The most stable doping site for the adatoms is found to be the hollow site between three adjacent sulfur atoms. Our results demonstrate weak physisorption of SO2 molecules on the pristine HfS2. The SO2 adsorption stability on the Ni-, Pd-, and Pt-doped HfS2 monolayers significantly improves compared with the pristine one. The calculated recovery times of Ni-doped, Pd-doped, and Pt-doped HfS2 monolayers after SO2 adsorption are 208.3 s, 92 s and 5.4 s, respectively. In addition, we designed SO2 sensor models containing Au-electrodes to investigate the influence of TM-doped HfS2 monolayers (TM = Ni, Pd, or Pt), as the material of the scattering region, on their I–V relationship and sensitivity. The sensitivities of TM-doped HfS2 monolayer (TM = Ni, Pd, or Pt)-based sensors are calculated to be 28%, 41%, and 44%, respectively. Our results suggest that Pd-doped and Pt-doped HfS2 monolayers are new promising 2D materials for designing SO2 sensors with high sensitivity and repeatability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides a summary of a previously published paper: Terminal Complement Inhibitor Ravulizumab in Generalized Myasthenia Gravis. The paper reported the results of the CHAMPION-MG trial which investigated the drug ravulizumab in the rare disease, myasthenia gravis. 2xgQ8ocB58K7snciBh7N6W Terminal Complement Inhibitor Ravulizumab in Generalized Myasthenia Gravis (MP4 594600 KB) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overhead hoist transportation systems (OHTS) have been the subject of worldwide research and development in recent years. The majority of these systems are utilized in semi-automated or fully automated factories. This article proposes a new solution for OTHS based on the concept of the modulation of mobile units that can move on a railway structure from one point to another. The OHTS mentioned in this article is a group of shuttles that can operate independently but which also have the ability to cooperate together to complete the desired tasks. By using the space below the ceiling, this system can operate without affecting the original design of the factories. There are many potential fields of application for picking-up and delivering, such as the medical field, the food and beverage fields, automotive and electrical appliances, etc. Moreover, by applying Dijkstra's algorithm in the controller design, the transportation speed among the stations in the whole system can be improved. The real prototype of the whole system, including three shuttles, is also manufactured to explore and assess the design and operation of the proposed system and its controller. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Ravulizumab demonstrated efficacy and an acceptable safety profile versus placebo in the randomized controlled period (RCP) of the phase 3 CHAMPION MG trial in patients with anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive generalized myasthenia gravis. We report an interim analysis of the ongoing open-label extension (OLE) designed to evaluate long-term treatment effects. Methods: Following completion of the 26-week RCP, patients could enter the OLE; patients who received ravulizumab in the RCP continued the drug; patients who previously received placebo switched to ravulizumab. Patients receive body-weight-based maintenance dosing of ravulizumab every 8 weeks. Efficacy endpoints up to 60 weeks included Myasthenia Gravis–Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) and Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis (QMG) scores, with least-squares (LS) mean change and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) reported. Results: Long-term efficacy and safety in the OLE were analyzed in 161 and 169 patients, respectively. Improvements in all scores were maintained through 60 weeks in patients who received ravulizumab during the RCP; LS mean change from RCP baseline in MG-ADL score was − 4.0 (95% CI: − 4.8, − 3.1; p < 0.0001). Rapid (within 2 weeks) and sustained improvements occurred in patients previously receiving placebo; LS mean change in MG-ADL score from OLE baseline to Week 60 was − 1.7 (95% CI: − 2.7, − 0.8; p = 0.0007). Similar trends were seen in QMG scores. Ravulizumab treatment was associated with a decreased rate of clinical deterioration events compared with placebo. Ravulizumab was well tolerated; no meningococcal infections were reported. Conclusion: Findings support the sustained efficacy and long-term safety of ravulizumab, administered every 8 weeks, in adults with anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive generalized myasthenia gravis. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03920293; EudraCT: 2018-003243-39. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Colon conduit is an alternative to a gastric conduit for esophagectomy in patients that stomach is not available. Surgical technique is complex and has a high risk of morbidities and mortality. Outcomes of patients are still lacking in the literature, thus aims of this study are to evaluate the safety, feasibility and long-term functional outcomes of patients who underwent esophagectomy for cancer with colon conduit via retrosternal route. Methods: Twenty-six patients underwent operation between August 2016 and June 2021 for malignancies. Minimally invasive esophagectomy and laparotomy were performed in accordance with the 2017 Japan Esophageal Society's guidelines. Colonic interposition was used for esophageal replacement. Outcomes were technical success, complications assessed using Clavien-Dindo classification, and patient's quality of life (QOL) based on EORTC-QOL-OES18 questionnaire. Results: Mean age was 56.0 ± 9.9 years and 21 patients (80.8%) were men. Mean operating time was 432 ± 66 min. Technical success was 100%. The average number of resected lymph nodes was 26 ± 14. Twelve patients (46.2%) experienced postoperative complications: 7/12 were classified as grade I-II, 3/12 as grade III, 1/12 as grade IV, and 1/12 as grade V (death). Patient's QOL improved during the follow-up period with median (25–75th percentiles) global EORTC-QOL-OES18 score was 29 (17–34); 13 (9–21), and 9 (6–16) at 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. During the follow-up period, there were 4 late complications, 3 lymphatic recurrences, 5 distant metastases, and 6 deaths. Conclusions: Colon conduit via retrosternal route after esophagectomy is feasible, safe, and could provide acceptable long-term functional outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a series of two-dimensional asymmetric Janus γ-Sn2OX (X = S, Se, Te) monolayers and systematically calculate the electronic structure, piezoelectricity, and mobility of carriers by using the first-principles method. It is predicted that while γ-Sn2OS and γ-Sn2OSe monolayers are structurally stable, Janus γ-Sn2OTe is found to be unstable with the negative frequencies appearing in its phonon spectrum. Both γ-Sn2OS and γ-Sn2OSe monolayers are semiconductors with indirect bandgaps. Particularly, γ-Sn2OS has a camel's back-like structure in the top valence band and Rashba spin splitting with a Rashba energy of 3.50 meV is found in γ-Sn2OS when the spin-orbit coupling is taken into account. Our calculated results reveal that the Janus γ-Sn2OS and γ-Sn2OSe monolayers are piezoelectric with out-of-plane piezoelectric coefficient d31 predicted to be 0.18 and 0.26 pm V−1, respectively. It is also indicated that γ-Sn2OS and γ-Sn2OSe exhibit highly directionally anisotropic carrier mobility and their electron mobilities are high enough for applications in nanoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computer simulations of traffic and driving provide essential solutions to reduce risk and cost in traffic-related studies and research. Through nearly 90 years of simulation development, many research projects have attempted to improve the various aspects of realism through the use of traffic theory, cameras, eye-tracking devices, sensors, etc. However, the previous studies still present limitations, such as not being able to simulate mixed and chaotic traffic flows, as well as limited integration/interoperability with 3D driving simulators. Thus, instead of reusing previous traffic simulators, in this paper, we define relevant concepts and describe the development and testing of a novel traffic generator. First, we introduce realistic aspects to improve traffic generation, including interactive physics (i.e., interactions based on physics among the vehicles, infrastructure, and weather) and natural traffic behaviors (e.g., road user behaviors and traffic rules), allowing the self-driving vehicle behaviors to mimic human behaviors under stochastic factors such as random vehicles and speed. Second, we gain experiences from the technical deficiencies of existing systems. Third, we propose methods for traffic generation based on the action point angle of sight (APAS) formula, which adheres to these constraints and is interoperable with modern driving simulators. We also conducted quantitative evaluations in two experiments (comprising 250 trials), in order to prove that the proposed solution can effectively simulate mixed traffic flows. Moreover, the approaches presented in this study can help self-driving cars to find their way at an intersection/T-junction, as well as allowing them to steer automatically after an accident occurs. The results indicate that traffic generation algorithms based on these new traffic theories can be effectively implemented and used in modern driving simulators and multi-driving simulators, outperforming previous traffic generators based on repurposed technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The terminal complement C5 inhibitor ravulizumab has a long elimination half-life, allowing maintenance dosing every 8 weeks. In the 26-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled period (RCP) of the CHAMPION MG study, ravulizumab provided rapid and sustained efficacy and was well tolerated in adults with anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive (AChR Ab+) generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG). This analysis evaluated the pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), and potential immunogenicity of ravulizumab in adults with AChR Ab+ gMG. Methods: Data were analyzed from 86 patients who received ravulizumab in the CHAMPION MG RCP. Ravulizumab dosing was weight-based: initial loading dose of 2400/2700/3000 mg on Day 1 and maintenance doses of 3000/3300/3600 mg on Day 15 and then every 8 weeks. PK parameters were estimated from serum ravulizumab concentrations determined pre- and post-dose; PD effects of ravulizumab on serum free C5 concentrations were measured; and immunogenicity was assessed using anti-drug antibody and neutralizing-antibody assays. Results: Target serum ravulizumab concentrations (> 175 µg/mL) were achieved immediately after the first ravulizumab dose (within 30 min of infusion completion) and maintained throughout the 26-week treatment period irrespective of patient body weight. Following the final maintenance dose, mean Cmax was 1548 µg/mL and Ctrough 587 µg/mL; no meaningful differences were noted among body-weight categories. Inhibition of serum free C5 was immediate, complete (< 0.5 μg/mL), and sustained throughout treatment in all patients. No treatment-emergent anti-drug antibodies were observed. Conclusions: PK/PD evidence supports the use of ravulizumab every 8 weeks for immediate, complete, and sustained inhibition of terminal complement C5 in adults with AChR Ab+ gMG. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03920293 (April 18, 2019). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose the novel ZrTeS4 single layer and investigate its properties using first-principles calculations. In the equilibrium state, the ZrTeS4 single layer has an anisotropic lattice with high structural stability. The direct band gap of ZrTeS4 is found to be approximately 1.89 eV. Like other narrow-band-gap 2D materials, ZrTeS4 is rather ductile, however its Poisson's ratio is close to that of graphene. Single-layer ZrTeS4 is expected to be a promising non-linear optical material due to its good birefringence and perfect transparency in most of the infrared region. Single-layer ZrTeS4 is favorable for hole–electron separation because it only allows fast mobility of electrons along the x-axis. The absorption coefficient α(ω) is very high in the visible region (at 105 cm−1) and ultra-violet region (at 106 cm−1). The electronic and optical properties of single-layer ZrTeS4 can be tuned by applying different strains. It is reasonable to suggest single-layer ZrTeS4 as a good candidate for optoelectronic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pneumatic artificial muscle (PAM) is a potential actuator in human–robot interaction systems, especially rehabilitation systems. However, PAM is a nonlinear actuator with uncertainty and a considerable delay in characteristics, making control challenging. This study presents a discrete-time sliding mode control approach combined with the adaptive fuzzy algorithm (AFSMC) to deal with the unknown disturbance of the PAM-based actuator. The developed fuzzy logic system has parameter vectors of the component rules that are automatically updated by an adaptive law. Consequently, the developed fuzzy logic system can reasonably approximate the system disturbance. When operating the PAM-based system in multi-scenario studies, experimental results confirm the efficiency of the proposed strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we study the global solvability of Riemann-Liouville and Caputo time-fractional integro-differential equations in a space of functions with square average power growth. We prove the uniqueness of corresponding inverse problems for one point observation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study's aim is to examine the antecedents of destination loyalty, and considers the role and influence of tourism products and destination image to international tourisms' loyalty in case of HoiAn World Cultural Heritage Site. The study suggested an integrated approach to understand tourists' loyalty model and investigate the empirical evidence about the relationship among tourism products, destination image, risk perception, tourist experience, destination satisfaction and tourists' loyalty. This study also mentions important questions concerning how tourism products, destination image, tourist experience, risk perception, and tourists' satisfaction affect tourists' loyalty. Smart PLS3 is used to estimate and test the relationships in the research model. Mediation analysis and importance performance matrix analysis are also used to consider clearly the relationship between the constructs of research model. The study's results indicate that tourism products, destination image, tourism experience, risk perception, and satisfaction are antecedents of international tourists' loyalty in Hoi An World Cultural Heritage Site. And in them, tourism products affect significantly positively to destination imagine and satisfaction, beside destination image and satisfaction hold the role of mediator in this relationship. Implementing IPMA to identify the predecessors that have relatively high importance for loyalty but also a relatively low performance. The results pointed out that the constructs as satisfaction, tourism product, risk perception and image have a high importance for the tourist loyalty. The study added the antecedent of tourism products and risk perception to the model and could enrich the literature, pointing to be possibility of a destination loyalty model that can be applied to various contexts, especially after COVID- 19 pandemic. The study also discussed theoretical and managerial implications for marketing tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Laparoscopic gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer (GC) has been applied more frequently worldwide but is still controversial for patients with serosal invasion (T4a). This study compared short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic distal radical gastrectomy (LDG) with open distal gastrectomy (ODG) for T4a GC. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively studied 472 patients with T4a gastric adenocarcinoma in the lower or middle third of the stomach: 231 underwent LDG and 241 underwent ODG between 2013 and 2020. Short-term outcomes included operative characteristics and complications. Long-term outcomes included overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Propensity score-matched (PSM) analysis was used to adjust for imbalances in baseline characteristics between groups. Results: The PSM strategy resulted in 294 patients (147 in each group). The LDG group had a significantly longer operating time (mean: 200 vs 190 min, p = 0.001) but reduced blood loss (mean: 50 vs 100 ml, p = 0.001). The LDG group had a higher rate of any postoperative complication (23.1% vs 12.2%, p = 0.021) but most were classified as grades I–II according to Clavien–Dindo classification. Grade III–V complications were similar between groups. Five-year OS was 69% versus 60% (p = 0.109) and 5-year DFS was 58% vs 53% (p = 0.3) in LDG and ODG groups, respectively. For tumor size < 5 cm, LDG was better in reduction of blood loss, postoperative hospital length of stay, and OS. Conclusions: LDG is feasible and safe for patients with T4a GC and is comparable to ODG regarding short- and long-term outcomes. Furthermore, LDG can be a favorable option for T4a GC smaller than 5 cm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are substantial disease and health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) burdens for many patients with myasthenia gravis (MG), especially for those whose disease symptoms are not well controlled. HRQoL measures such as the Myasthenia Gravis Quality of Life 15-item revised (MG-QOL15r) and EuroQoL 5-Dimensions 5-Levels (EQ-5D-5L) are vital for evaluating the clinical benefit of therapeutic interventions in patients with MG, as they assess the burden of disease and the effectiveness of treatment, as perceived by patients. The phase 3 ADAPT study (NCT03669588) demonstrated that efgartigimod—a novel neonatal Fc receptor inhibitor—was well tolerated and that acetylcholine receptor antibody–positive (AChR-Ab+) participants who received efgartigimod had statistically significant improvements in MG-specific clinical scale scores. The ancillary data reported here, which cover an additional treatment cycle, show that these participants had similar significant improvements in HRQoL measures, the MG-QOL15r and EQ-5D-5L utility and visual analog scales, and that these improvements were maintained in the second treatment cycle. Positive effects on HRQoL were rapid, seen as early as the first week of treatment in both treatment cycles, and maintained for up to 4 weeks in the follow-up–only portion of treatment cycles. The pattern of improvements in HRQoL paralleled changes in immunoglobulin G level, and correlational analyses show that improvements were consistent across HRQoL measures and with clinical efficacy measures in the ADAPT study. The substantial and durable improvements in HRQoL end points in this study demonstrate the broader benefit of treatment with efgartigimod beyond relief of immediate signs and symptoms of gMG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work is motivated by the recent fabrication of a new four-atom-thick hexagonal polymorph from group IV monochalcogenide, so-called γ -GeSe (Lee et al 2021 Nano Lett. 21 4305). In this paper, we propose and examine the structural characteristics, electronic properties, and carrier mobility of monolayers Janus γ -Ge2 XY ( X / Y = S, Se, or Te) based on comprehensive first-principles calculations. Monolayers γ -Ge2 XY are confirmed to be structurally stable. Our calculations reveal that γ -Ge2 XY monolayers are indirect semiconductors with Mexican-hat-like dispersions in the top valence band. While the effect of the electric field on the energy band dispersions of γ -Ge2 XY monolayers is weak, the energy band dispersions are changed drastically in the presence of strain, especially compressive strain. Interestingly, a structural phase transition from semiconductor to metal is observed in γ -Ge2 XY under compressive strain. γ -Ge2STe and γ -Ge2SeTe possess high electron mobility with values of 3.22 × 10 3 and 8.33 × 10 3 cm2 V−1 s−1, respectively. Our findings not only explore the fundamental physical properties of γ -Ge2 XY but also open up new opportunities in the design of high-performance electronic nanodevices based on layered nanomaterials with Mexican-hat-like dispersions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Universal compilation is a training process that compiles a trainable unitary into a target unitary. It has vast potential applications from depth-circuit compressing to device benchmarking and quantum error mitigation. Here we propose a universal compilation algorithm for quantum state tomography in low-depth quantum circuits. We apply the Fubini-Study distance as a trainable cost function and employ various gradient-based optimizations. We evaluate the performance of various trainable unitary topologies and the trainability of different optimizers for getting high efficiency and reveal the crucial role of the circuit depth in robust fidelity. The results are comparable with the shadow tomography method, a similar fashion in the field. Our work expresses the adequate capability of the universal compilation algorithm to maximize the efficiency in the quantum state tomography. Further, it promises applications in quantum metrology and sensing and is applicable in the near-term quantum computers for various quantum computing tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Universal compilation is a training process that compiles a trainable unitary into a target unitary. It has vast potential applications from depth-circuit compressing to device benchmarking and quantum error mitigation. Here we propose a universal compilation algorithm for quantum state tomography in low-depth quantum circuits. We apply the Fubini-Study distance as a trainable cost function and employ various gradient-based optimizations. We evaluate the performance of various trainable unitary topologies and the trainability of different optimizers for getting high efficiency and reveal the crucial role of the circuit depth in robust fidelity. The results are comparable with the shadow tomography method, a similar fashion in the field. Our work expresses the adequate capability of the universal compilation algorithm to maximize the efficiency in the quantum state tomography. Further, it promises applications in quantum metrology and sensing and is applicable in the near-term quantum computers for various quantum computing tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In this paper, the high-performance SERS substrate based on aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) 98 wt% ZnO and 2 wt% Al2O3 film with Ag nanoparticles (NPs) is fabricated to detect the rhodamine 6G and ketoprofen standard at very low concentration. The AZO film is deposited on a glass platform by the DC magnetron sputtering method. Then Ag NPs with a high density of “hot spots” are decorated on the AZO film by the DC magnetron sputtering. The optical and electrical properties, structure, surface morphology, and element in the sample are investigated by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), Hall measurement, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersion X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The results illustrate the optimal SERS Ag (10 s)/AZO (45 min) substrate possessing good crystallinity, high carrier concentration, and rouge surface with the AZO grains average diameter of 100–140 nm, Ag NPs sizes of about 30–40 nm are evenly distributed throughout the sample surface. The sensitivity of Ag (10 s)/AZO (45 min) SERS is investigated using rhodamine 6G reagent. The Raman results show that Ag/AZO SERS substrate can detect rhodamine 6G with a limit of detection (LOD) of 10− 15 M and enhancement factor (EF) of ∼ 3.7 ⋅ 1014. The highly sensitive SERS substrate detects ketoprofen standards with a LOD of 0.01 ppm, and an EF of 6.7 ⋅ 106. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this Letter, we design Janus γ- Sn 2 X Y (X / Y = S, Se, Te) monolayers and predict their piezoelectricity and carrier mobility by using first-principles simulations. Janus γ- Sn 2 X Y are found to be indirect semiconducting characteristics with a camel's back-like dispersion in the top valence band. We discovered that Janus γ- Sn 2 X Y are piezoelectric with high out-of-plane piezoelectric coefficients. Our calculated results for the piezoelectricity demonstrate that the out-of-plane piezoelectric coefficient d31 of Janus γ-Sn2STe is calculated to be 1.02 pm/V, larger than that of other 2D structures. Moreover, our calculations for the transport features reveal that while the carrier mobility of γ-Sn2SSe is directionally isotropic, the electron mobility of both γ-Sn2STe and γ-Sn2SeTe exhibit high anisotropy along the two transport directions. The Janus γ- Sn 2 X Y monolayers have high electron mobility, especially the electron mobility of γ-Sn2STe exceeds 105 cm2 V–1 s–1, which is potential for nanoelectronic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, Industry 4.0 has provided many tools to replicate, monitor, and control physical systems. The purpose is to connect production assets to build cyber-physical systems that ensure the safety, quality, and efficiency of production processes. Particularly, the concept of digital twins has been introduced to create the virtual representation of physical systems where both elements are connected to exchange information. This general definition encompasses a series of major challenges for the developers of those functionalities. Among them is how to introduce the human perspective into the virtual replica. Therefore, this paper presents an approach for incorporating human factors in digital twins. This approach introduces a methodology to offer suggestions about employee rotations based on their previous performance during a shift. Afterward, this method is integrated into a digital twin to perform human performance assessments to manage workers' jobs. Furthermore, the presented approach is mainly comprised of a human skills modelling engine and a human scheduling engine. Finally, for demonstrating the approach, a simulated serial single-product manufacturing assembly line has been introduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perovskite halides have attracted substantial attention as materials for solar cell applications because of their fascinating optoelectronic and photovoltaic properties. We report the results of the first‐principles calculations of the strain effects on electronic and optical properties and carrier mobility of vacancy‐ordered Cs2SnI6 double perovskite. The calculated band gap energy of unstrained Cs2SnI6 is about 1.257 eV when using the Tran‐Blaha modified Becke Johnson (mBJ) exchange potential, which is in good agreement with experimental measurements. Under the applied strains, the energy band gap value increases up to 1.316 eV for −4% compressive strain and decreases to 1.211 eV for 4% tensile strain. This effect is mainly due to the fact that the conduction band minimum shifts under compressive and tensile strains. Based on carrier mobility calculations, we notice that under tensile strain the hole and electron carrier mobility diminish, whereas the carrier mobility increases by 16.3% for electrons and by 9.1% for holes under −4% compressive strain. Moreover, data of the calculated optical constants indicate that applied strains can affect the optical properties of Cs2SnI6 perovskite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]